Philippine News

ILOILO CITY -- To address the continuous stereotyping and limiting roles of women and men in the community, the National Museum Western Visayas hosted a hablon weaving demonstration and lecture on Saturday.Some 63 men and women from public and private schools and universities, public and private institutions, artist groups, and tourists experienced weaving fabric in a loom, locally called the “teral”.The event underscored that men can also take part in the weaving industry.Master weaver Connie Atijon from Miag-ao town, Iloilo held a brief lecture, with his son Franco, before the demonstration proper.Connie emphasized the need for the younger generations to value the weaving tradition and to learn the weaving process if given the opportunity.She expressed hope that her weaving skills would be passed on to the youth so that the age-old tradition would continue.“Some of the youth now prefer to play with their gadgets than learn traditions like hablon (weaving). I hope they give time lear…

MANILA -- Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma has welcomed the delegates to the upcoming National Youth Day (NYD) 2019 to be held in Cebu on April 23-28."We are happy and we feel privileged to be the host for the National Youth Day this coming April 23 to 28," Palma said in a video message.Palma expressed hope for a peaceful, memorable and spiritually-fruitful gathering."Together, let us pray, like Mary, that we may realize that we are all servants of the Lord, servants who are called to bring and share God's peace and joy," he said.The National Youth Day 2019 is organized by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, through the Episcopal Commission on Youth.More than 10,000 youths are expected to attend the NYD 2019 that will be held in Cebu for the first time since the activity was conceived in 1986.At least 52 parishes in the Archdiocese of Cebu are set to host the gathering.Nine festival sites are being organized to conduct different activities in line wi…

DANAO CITY, Cebu -- Senatorial candidates under the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) ticket received a warm welcome from residents of the hometown of President Rodrigo Duterte’s father on Friday.The President’s father, Vicente, was born in Danao and served as its mayor in an acting capacity by virtue of an appointment by then president Sergio Osmeña from 1944 to 1946. He and his family eventually moved to Davao in 1949.“Masaya po ako na nakabalik ako dito sa lugar kung saan nanggaling ang Pangulong Duterte, dito sa Danao City. Napakainit po ng pagtanggap ng mga kapwa (ko) Bisaya (I am happy to be able to return here where President Duterte came from, here in Danao City. The welcome extended by my co-Visayans is so warm),” Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, former special assistant to the President and now HNP senatorial bet, said in an interview before the formal start of the rally held at the Barangay Dungguan covered court here.Go even told the crowd that Duterte is fond of tracing his roots…

LAOAG CITY -- Former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson is bent on bringing down the prices of building materials in the country as he reported a looming business partnership with Korean investors.Singson confirmed this in an interview this week, saying a new technology in Korea and China is on its way to Ilocos Sur to provide an alternative for steel bars used for building houses and roads.Known as glass fiber-reinforced polymer rebars, this building material will soon be available in Ilocos Sur, Singson said.“This fiberglass rebar is three times stronger than steel, six times lighter than steel, and 30 percent cheaper than steel. Product testing has already been approved and the best thing about it is it is non-corrosive,” he said about this latest development.As of this posting, Singson said he is eyeing to establish about 30 warehouses from Santa to Narvacan in Ilocos Sur to store the products, which come in all sizes.Following the visit of President Rodrigo Duterte in Sout…

DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao -- Police has launched a manhunt against two men who ambushed and killed a village official of Maguindanao at the vicinity of this town on Saturday morning.In a report to Police Col. Ronald Briones, Maguindanao police provincial director, investigator-on-case Police Master Sgt. Datuguiana Pinguiaman of the Datu Odin Sinsuat police, identified the victim as Guiamadel Ambel, village chairman of Barangay Bintan, Talitay, Maguindanao.He was declared dead at a hospital in Cotabato City while his wife Saida Uttoh Guiamadel, 45, also of Barangay Bintan, is still undergoing medication due to injuries on her arm.Initial investigation revealed that the victims, while on board their pickup vehicle heading toward Cotabato City from Talitay, were waylaid along the national highway in Barangay Taviran of this town at about 7:40 a.m.."According to witnesses, the ambushers were on board a motorbike that tailed the victims,” Pinguiaman said in his report.Investigato…

COTABATO CITY – Health officials in North Cotabato have expressed alarm over the rise in the incidence of dengue since January and urged the public to help contain the disease.Dr. Eva Rabaya, North Cotabato’s Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) head, said that to date, a total of 1,162 dengue cases have been reported in North Cotabato’s 17 towns and Kidapawan City. During the same period last year, IPHO-North Cotabato only listed 306 dengue cases. Since she noticed the spike, Rabaya has directed all municipal health officials, as well as all health providers, especially those in the front line, to be proactive in containing the spread of the disease. “There is still no outbreak,” she told reporters here in an interview on Friday, as she sought the active participation of local government executives in the fight against dengue. Health providers admitted that they cannot do it alone and that they needed the support of the public. IPHO-North Cotabato data showed that Kidapawan Cit…

MANILA -- A shipment, containing 276 kg. of shabu worth PHP1.8 billion and packed to appear like tea products, was intercepted by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) Friday night.MICP District Collector, lawyer Erastus Sandino Austria, said the illegal drugs, declared as plastic resin, were found inside a 40-foot container van that arrived at the Manila North Harbor last March 17.“When the container was inspected, Customs and PDEA found 12 sacks containing items wrapped in clear cellophane and sealed in foil packaging designed to look like tea products,” Austria said in a statement.“Upon testing the sample of the subject substance, authorities were able to confirm that the items were shabu,” he added.The shipment was allegedly consigned to Wealth Lotus Empire Corp.The contents of the intercepted shipment will be inventoried, and the illegal drugs found were turned over to PDEA for proper handli…

MANILA -- The Diocese of Cubao is inviting the faithful to attend the celebration that will elevate the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel into a Minor Basilica on Monday.In a post on the Diocese’s Facebook account, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cubao said the occasion will be memorable since it is the first Basilica under the diocese.“The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cubao, together with the Order of Discalced Carmelites and the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, invites all the pilgrims and devotees to the Solemn Declaration of the Shrine as a Minor Basilica, the first in the diocese on March 25, 2019 at 6 p.m.,” it said.Bishop Honesto Ongtioco heads the diocese.The diocese added that those who will not be able to go to the venue can also watch the livestream at the diocese’s FB page, Veritas846.ph, and the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel’s FB page.Once the church is declared a Minor Basilica, the faithful would be able to see three physical signs that it h…

MANILA – Beijing will just ignore the case filed against Chinese President Xi Jinping by two former Philippine officials as it did not represent the view of the Philippines, Chargé d'Affaires Tan Qingsheng of the Chinese Embassy in Manila said.Tan was reacting to the March 13, 2019 communication sent by former Foreign Affairs secretary Albert del Rosario and former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to International Criminal Court Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda.In their 17-page complaint, del Rosario and Carpio-Morales said Xi and other Chinese officials should be held accountable for crimes against humanity over China's activities in the South China Sea, adding that these deprived Filipino fishermen of food and livelihood.China has no plans of answering the complaint, Tan said."I'm sure what they have done or what they will do, will not be able to represent the views of the Philippine government and people. Those actions will in no way stop the development of bilateral rel…

MANILA -- Even if the Balik Scientist Act was already signed into a law in June 2018, Filipino researchers and Balik Scientists (returning scientists) still experience challenges.In separate interviews with the Philippine News Agency (PNA), two Balik Scientists shared that among these challenges include low salary, work overload, less exposure to world-class research and low publication rates.Rodrigo Amisola, Jr., senior lecturer at the Botswana University of Science and Technology, and Josefino Comiso, scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, both availed of the Balik Scientist short-term program, which enables them to do their engagement here for 30 to 90 days."The 'good' monetary benefits (of Balik Scientist law) only apply to short-term program. When you apply for long term, or to be permanently stationed here, those benefits disappear. I am talking about salary and not about (research) funding opportunities because funding is heavily invested by government at t…

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao -- Military and local officials foresee a peaceful and orderly local election in the Maguindanao town of Datu Saudi Ampatuan after candidates signed a peace covenant Friday.

The candidates -- from mayoral down to municipal council hopefuls -- trooped to the municipal covered court to express their willingness to participate in the peace covenant signing event.

Datu Saudi Ampatuan, a town known for its Pink Mosque, has gained notoriety over the years for election-related fraud and violence.

The initiative was facilitated by the Army’s 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade (MIB), the 57th Infantry Battalion, the Commission on Elections, and the local interior and local government office.

“We were elated at the commitment shown by six mayoralty candidates, three vice mayoral aspirants and 36 town councilor hopefuls ‘rubbing elbows’ with one another during the covenant signing,” Major Jocelyn Mangadlao, 1st MIB executive officer, said in a statement.

Mangadlao said can…

COTABATO CITY -- A man formerly detained on murder charges was rearrested by anti-narcotics agents during a drug buy-bust operation in Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao Friday.Deputy Director Marlon Santos, officer-in-charge of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-BARMM), led the sting operation along with personnel of the Army’s 37th Infantry Battalion and Sultan Kudarat town police.Santos identified the arrested suspect as Alex Ango Salipada alias “Datu”, 54, of Barangay Gang, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.“The suspect was previously detained at the Camp Bagong Diwa District Jail, Bicutan, Taguig City for a case of multiple murder,” he said in a statement.Agents pounced on Salipada after he handed over to a poseur-buyer one heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet of suspected shabu weighing about 50 grams, at past 12 noon along Barangay Crossing Pinaring. The shabu has an estimated market value of PHP340,000.Also confiscat…

MANILA -- Partly cloudy skies will prevail over the country on Saturday, while some areas will experience isolated rain showers, the weather bureau said.The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Batanes, the Babuyan Group of Islands, the Bicol region, the Samar provinces, Caraga and the Davao region will experience isolated rain showers due to the frontal system and localized thunderstorms.Meanwhile, moderate to strong winds will blow over northern Luzon and the eastern part of central and southern Luzon, and the Visayas. Coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to occasionally rough.Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate with slight to moderate seas, PAGASA said. (PNA)
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MANILA -- The Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) has assured that the Philippines will host the SEA Games from November 30 to December 11."We would like to assure our athletes, the sports community, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the rest of the Filipino people that all preparations for the 30th South East Asian Games are in full swing," the committee said in a statement issued Friday.Reports surfaced this week that the Philippines is in danger of losing the hosting rights to either Indonesia or Thailand due to budget constraints.Phisgoc, however, maintained that despite the budget cuts and various challenges confronting the Philippine hosting of the 30th SEA Games, “we are unfazed and determined to make this successful.”“We know that the budget limitation is a major factor. But our strong will to mount the best SEA Games in history for the sake of our athletes and the Filipino people, is bigger than any other problem confronting us today," it said.T…

INQUIRER -- Filipino fishermen fear backlash over Xi casePHILIPPINE STAR -- MWSS urges Manila Water to waive fees for MarchMANILA BULLETIN -- AFP official warns of Nur's cloutDAILY TRIBUNE -- Shun power, tyros toldMANILA TIMES -- Duterte bans govt junketsMANILA STANDARD -- Heat is on, it's dry seasonBUSINESS MIRROR -- Mercury stops rising in Diwalwal
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DAVAO CITY – A total of 530 drug suspects have been arrested while 19 died in anti-illegal drug operations conducted by the different police units under the Police Regional Office-11 (PRO-11) in the first quarter of the year.

A consolidated report from PRO-11 dated January to March 15 showed that the 19 drug suspects died when they engaged authorities in 16 anti-illegal drugs operations under the Oplan Double Barrel Reloaded.

Police Brig General Marcelo Morales, PRO-11 director, said police units in the region have been directed to observe maximum tolerance but bloody encounters cannot be avoided when suspects threaten the lives and limbs of law enforcers.

“I do not want to risk the lives of my working policemen in exchange for a deadly armed criminal who does not value their life. So, if the circumstance requires them to retaliate, especially if their life is in imminent danger, then I told my men to do what you are supposed to do,” Morales said.

During the period, PRO-11 said anti-d…

MANILA — A total of 20 clubs will battle for youth football supremacy in the new Youth Football League (YFL) season.The said squads will field in teams in all the six age groups-- the under-7, under-9, under-11, under-13, under-15, and under-17 divisions.“I think most of the club members are all quite excited to start YFL season 2019. We have a lot more teams this year and a lot more kids involved, so I hope we can deliver the kind of competition level everyone is expecting, so I guess those are the things we want to make sure will happen,” YFL president Mike Atayde said.Kaya Iloilo, known for having a solid grassroots football academy, is among the favorites to capture multiple championships this season.The YFL season will kick off on March 31 at the Ayala Alabang Country Club U7, U9, U11, and U13 competitions.The following week, the U15 and the U17 events will commence.The league will also make a stop at the Manila Jockey Club in Carmona, Cavite. (PNA)
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SILANG, Cavite -- Nine residents of this province were among the 201 graduates who marched during the Philippine National Police Academy’s (PNPA) 40th commencement exercises here Friday.The graduates of Bachelor of Science in Public Safety in the PNPA are Jananthony Amor from Noveleta, Cavite; Engel Bert Amparo from Trece Martires City; Mario Dacillo Jr. from Dasmariñas City; Jasim Ibra and Rizalie Tadeo from Imus City; Vincent Jong Vic Manalo from Magallanes, Cavite; Resty Mendegorin from Cavite City; Maycee De Asis Antazo from Magallanes; and John Paul Milleza.They will be reporting to their respective units as police, jail and fire officers after being commissioned as Police Lieutenant, Jail and Fire Inspectors in the tri-services of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)."I am proud of the nine fellow Cavitenos who graduated here in the Academy. A snappy salute sa inyo (to all of you)," Cavite Governor Jesus Crispin Remulla said.PNPA Public Informatio…

DAGUPAN CITY -- Health authorities have asked pet owners in Ilocos Region to vaccinate their animals with anti-rabies to further reduce fatalities, as the region recorded 75,329 animal bites and 20 human rabies victims in 2018.John Paul Aquino, Rabies Regional Coordinator, made this call even after animal bites cases last year declined by 30 percent from the recorded 108,026 in 2017, placing the region on seventh place in rankings nationwide from fourth place.Aquino said Pangasinan ranked first nationwide last year.He said the figure for human rabies, however, ballooned to 20 victims in 2018 compared to 10 victims the previous year.Region 1 placed seventh in 2017 for human rabies cases, and its rank jumped to number five nationwide last year, he said.As of March 2019, there are already five human rabies cases in Region 1 and these were all recorded in Pangasinan, he added.Based on rabies prevention and control program data, there were 18 positive rabies cases in dogs as of March 19, o…

CEBU CITY — An organization listed in the Commission on Elections as contender for party-list system in the May 13 elections has pushed for more autonomy to ensure maximum utilization of resources collected from local taxes.Mike Pato, second nominee of 1AAAP party-list, said Friday that with autonomy, Cebu and other provinces will be empowered “to decide for our people.”Other nominees of 1AAAP are lawyer Anna Alvarez from Davao (first nominee) and Cedric Ang from Leyte.1AAAP (Alliance Advocating Autonomy Party) is among the party-list organizations invited to a candidates’ forum dubbed as “Klarohay Ta” organized by the Mega Cebu and the University of San Carlos (USC) on Friday.Other party-list organizations whose nominees showed up in the forum were Ako Bisdak, Bayan Muna, and Magdalo.According to Pato, big provinces like Cebu does not “need financial assistance from Manila, we only need to retain a bigger part of the income we have generated.”He demonstrated the distribution of infra…

CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan — Incumbent local officials and other political aspirants in this province signed on Friday a peace covenant for honest, orderly and peaceful elections.The signing, a joint endeavor of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), Bulacan Police Provincial Office and the Philippine Army’s 48th Infantry Battalion, was held at the Barasoain Church here.Before the activity, the candidates held a unity walk from Paseo del Congreso to Barasoain Church, followed by an interfaith prayer.The participants were candidates from different political parties led by gubernatorial aspirants Malolos City Mayor Christian "Agila" D. Natividad (PDP-Laban); Vice Governor Daniel Fernando (NUP), and Ernest D. Balite (Independent); Gov. Wilhelmino-Sy-Alvarado and Board Member Anjo Mendoza for vice governor; and Rep. Jonathan Sy-Alvarado and his opponent, Sander Tantoco for Bulacan's 1st District.Col. Chito Bersaluna, dire…

CEBU CITY — A new passenger ferry and cargo vessel port, which will soon rise in Poblacion, Liloan town in Cebu, is expected to benefit some 10,000 residents from the northern towns and cities - who are working on Mactan Island and the central city of Cebu, the town mayor said.The groundbreaking of the facility on Friday was led by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino, and top executives of private companies that will undertake the port construction project and operation.Liloan Mayor Christina Garcia-Frasco said there are over 10,000 residents from her town, all the way to Danao City, who will gain from the project as the usual three-hour travel time will be cut to just 35 minutes.These workers are currently employed in different locators at the Mactan Export Processing Zone and other establishments in neighboring cities in the metropolis.Mayor Sara cited the unique arrangement of the project and its operation by a private firm. The …

DUMAGUETE CITY – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) here is investigating an oil spill that has left patches of oil in coastal areas in nearby Sibulan town and this capital city.Lt. Commander Jansen Benjamin, PCG-Dumaguete Station Commander, disclosed Friday that the oil spill was estimated to have occurred around three days prior to its discovery, based on the characteristics seen in the oil retrieved from shallow waters and from the shore.The extent of the damage, however, has yet to be ascertained pending reports on the effects of the oil spill on the environment. Benjamin hoped there would be no serious consequences.So far, no oil slick that would pose a greater threat to the environment has been reported yet although the Coast Guard here is coordinating with its counterparts in nearby areas outside of Negros Oriental to be on the lookout for any, he said.According to Benjamin, it is also difficult for them to determine as yet who could be responsible for the oil spill, or perhaps a…

LEGAZPI CITY -- The Sangguniang Panlungsod here has approved the release of a PHP122-million fund for the Legazpi City Planning and Development Council (LCPDC) to be used for various development program, projects and other important activities.Councilor Vince Baltazar, in an interview on Friday, said the allocated fund would give the city's social development and general welfare of the people a boost.“It includes the purchase and development of land for informal settlers; purchase of medical equipment and constructions of other health facilities including the construction and rehabilitation of different barangay multi-purpose; installation of street lighting system and for the construction and rehabilitation of water supply system,” he said.Baltazar added that the allocated budget would be used for the construction and improvement of government structures and facilities and development of alternative power and energy sources.The funding for sustainable livelihood program for micro…

LUNGSOD NG KORONADAL, South Cotabato, Marso 20 (PIA) - Ilulunsad ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources ang “LINIS-ILOG SOX” kaugnay ng selebrasyon ng World Water Day sa Marso 22.Ayon kay DENR 12 Regional Executive Director Nilo Tamoria ang programa ay tugon sa hamon ni DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu na magkaroon ng malinis na katubigan sa buong bansa.Sabay-sabay na lilinisin ang abot sa 13 ilog at sapa sa iba’t-ibang bayan at probinsya ng rehiyon sa Marso 22.Sa lungsod ng Koronadal, higit isang libo ang inaasahang makikiisa sa paglilinis ng B’lok Creek.Nanawagan si Koronadal City Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO) Augustus Bretana sa mga mamamayan na makilahok at makipagtulungan sa gobyerno para mabigyan ng solusyon ang problemang ito.Ayon sa opisyal, isa sa mga pangunahing pinangagalingan ng dumi sa B’lok Creek ay ang mga informal settlers sa nakatira malapit rito.Kaugnay nito, pinaplano ng lokal na pamahalaan na ilipat sa resettlement area ang mga ito. (ORVRiv…

SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao -- Military troops pursuing the Islamic State-linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao have recovered more anti-personnel mines, mortars, rifles, and communication devices from the extremist group.

On Thursday, elements of Army’s 37th Infantry Battalion (IB) said they found an abandoned safe house in Barangay Penditin, Shariff Saydona Mustapha town with three anti-personnel mines at about 7 a.m.

The improvised bombs were kept in the ceiling of the house made of wood and bamboos. A few hours after, troopers belonging to the 34IB clashed with about 20 BIFF members in the same village that lasted for 30 minutes.

The militants splintered into smaller groups and fled after the firefight. In an ensuing clearing operation, 34IB troopers found one Carbine rifle, two anti-personnel mines, and personal belongings of BIFF members.

“The civilians are supporting the government by providing vital intelligence information that led to positive result…

MANILA -- It’s just right for President Rodrigo Duterte to permanently terminate peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) as the Reds are just using the talks as a “deceptive plot" to replace "the government with a proletarian dictatorship,” a ranking official of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Friday.“Dapat lang (it’s just appropriate),” AFP Deputy Chief-of-Staff for Civil-Military Operations Brig. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. said a day after President Duterte announced the permanent termination of talks with the communists and the latter’s preference for localized peace engagements.Parlade said the CPP and its founder, Jose Maria “Joma” Sison, were just using the the peace talks not to really attain peace but to gain international publicity, raise funds and increase their strength.“Thirty-one years of deceptive ploys using peace talks, across five administrations, only resulted to more terrorist NPAs (New People’s Army) being released, an o…

COTABATO CITY -- Police nabbed a recently-released "drug peddler" for allegedly selling shabu to a poseur-buyer during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Rosary Heights 6 here Thursday.

Police Executive Master Sergeant Fernando Guerra, city police Station 3 deputy commander, identified the suspect as Norodin Mamaluba, of Barangay Rosary Heights 10, this city.

“Mamaluba has been imprisoned for several years at the city jail prior to his being rearrested due to the same offense,” Guerra said.

Seized from the suspect during the 1 p.m. drug buy-bust was a black belt bag containing three various sizes of suspected shabu packets with street value of PHP15,000; drug paraphernalia, a disposable lighter, and marked money.

Guerra said the suspect will be charged again for violation of R.A. 9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (PNA)
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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Efforts to counter violent extremism among Muslims in Sarangani province continue to gain ground through the provincial government’s innovative Madaris Tarbiyyah program.

Asma Akmad, coordinator of Sarangani’s Commission on Muslim Affairs, said Friday more Moro residents are now aware of violent extremism and are making efforts to counter the problem in the area.

Akmad said such accomplishment was mainly due to the mainstreaming by the provincial government in the past three years of the Madaris Tarbiyyah.

The program engages Moro residents by way of education and capacitating them to prevent the entry of violent extremism into their communities.  

“We have been dealing with it even before extremism became a major issue in 2017,” she said, referring to the five-month siege by members of the Islamic State-inspired Maute group in Marawi City.

She said Sarangani initiated dialogues and awareness campaigns focusing on countering violent extremism after the Davao Cit…

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY--The Police Regional Police in Northern Mindanao (PRO-10) vowed to discipline one of its personnel, who ran amok after allegedly being denied sex by a masseuse.

Police Lt. Col. Surki Sereñas, PRO-10 spokesperson, said on Thursday that Patrolman Ralph Vincent Bacas will also face administrative charges on top of the criminal case lodged against him.

On March 19, a police report said a civilian-clad Bacas caused a commotion at a local massage parlor when a masseuse rejected his offer to perform on him a sexual act for PHP1,000--known as "extra service" in the massage parlor parlance.

Bacas reportedly caused a scene and threatened the establishment with a handgun, forcing the management to call the police. Bacas was charged with grave coercion and for violating the Commission on Election’s gun ban.

“He faces dismissal from the police service and imprisonment if proven guilty,” Sereñas said.

Sereñas reminded Bacas of the Police Officers Creed that states: &qu…

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur--The Army’s 1st Infantry Division (1ID) is conducting a parallel investigation against the four soldiers linked to the attempt on the life of a former Zamboanga del Sur official in Lanao del Norte on Wednesday.

Capt. Clint Antipala, 1ID information officer, said Friday the Army launched the investigation, in coordination with the police, following discovery that the arrested four persons are 1ID personnel assigned with the 1st Infantry Division based in Labangan town, Lanao del Norte.

The four suspects were arrested at a checkpoint by policemen in Bacolod, Lanao del Norte, several minutes after riding in tandem gunmen shot and wounded Nacianceno Pacalioga Jr.--a former mayor and vice mayor of Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur.      

 “In the light of the recent incident allegedly involving our personnel, the 1st Infantry Division is immediately conducting a thorough investigation. We are in close coordination with the PNP (Philippine National Police) and our…

MANILA -- A ranking Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) official said the expected higher demand for cash during the Holy Week and the tax filing season made monetary officials decide not to offer the 28-day term facility on March 27.BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo told reporters Thursday the TDF volume offering is based on their projection for cash requirements of banks and their clients.Holy Week starts on April 14, while the deadline for filing of income tax is on April 15.Guinigundo also denied claims by some economists that the adjustments in the TDF offer were due to tightness in domestic liquidity.He cited the government’s debt issuance exercise and outflows from the equities market as among the factors that some economists had noted in saying that domestic liquidity is facing some hurdles.For one, the Bureau of the Treasury recently issued PHP235.9-billion worth of Retail Treasury Bond.Guinigundo said this exercise “in effect makes the national government part of the open ma…

MANILA — The four boxers eyeing a shot at an International Boxing Federation (IBF) world title made weight during the official weigh-in for Rising Stars, the first collaboration of MP Promotions and Ringstar Asia.Samuel Salva and Rene Mark Cuarto, the two protagonists in the IBF minimumweight title eliminator, both weighed 105 pounds during the pre-fight event at the Resorts World Manila in Pasay City on Friday.On the other hand, former International Boxing Organization bantamweight champion Michael Dasmariñas tipped the scales at 118 pounds to make sure he is still in for the headliner of the said fight card.His opponent, Kenny Demecillo, came in slightly lighter at 117.5 pounds.One of the fights in the said card will have a last-minute change.Luiz Borje will now have a different opponent as Bernie Aday failed to attend the weigh-in for undisclosed reasons.The said fight card will take place on Saturday night at the Resorts World Manila. (PNA)
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GUIPOS, Zamboanga del Sur, March 22(PIA) -- May 43 na dating rebelde ang nakatanggap ng financial assistance sa pamahalaan mula sa Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) ng Department of the Interior and Local Government  (DILG) at 53rd Infantry Battalion, lungsod ng Guipos,  Zamboanga del Sur.May kabuuang Php2.7 milyones ang ibinigay sa mga  former rebels (FRs), kung saan ang bawa’t isa sa kanila ay nakatanggap ng P65,000 bilang livelihood and emergency assistance.Ang FRs na isinuko ang kanilang  mga armas ay nakatangap ng additional cash bilang remuneration at depende ito sa halaga ng baril na kanilang sinurender.Isinagawa rin ang groundbreaking ceremony ng halfway house para sa  mga FRs.
Ayon kay Brigadier General Roberto Ancan, commanding officer ng 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division, Philippine Army, ang halfway house ay magsisilbing venue ng rehabilitation, healing session, education at skills training activities ng mga FRs. (ALT/GCC/PIA-Zamboanga del Sur)
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ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 22 (PIA) – One of Zamboanga’s iconic tourist destinations, Lantaka Hotel is now part of Ateneo de Zamboanga University (ADZU) after the owners, the Walstrom family donated the hotel for it to be developed as an educational and spiritual center.The hotel was formally turned over to ADZU on March 19.The donors chose the school for one reason that it is run by the Jesuits, a religious congregation which promotes  spiritual objectives as expressed through their mission in education.“A tremendous gift like this is valuable and precious to us,” Fr. Karel San Juan, SJ, president of AdZU said.Fr. San Juan shared that AdZU is known to be the smallest campus among all the other Ateneo Schools in the country, and is in need of additional resources to further the school’s mission.The new campus will be able to supply very much-needed facilities in serving the students of the region. Fr. San Juan also emphasized that the AdZU Lantaka Campus will be used as venue for retreats,…

DAVAO CITY, Mar 22  (PIA)- Regional Peace and Order Council chairpersons reported 2018 gains and issues in the Joint Cluster Meeting of the National Peace and Order Council and the RPOC held  March 14 at Arcadia Center, here.The accomplishments  of all regional councils centered on anti-illegal drug campaign, anti-criminality, insurgency and violent extremism, as well as community support program.The RPOC Caraga Region highlights its resolution expanding the coverage of the landmark Peace an Development Zones (PDZs) in the region.Agusan del Norte Governor and RPOC 13 Chairperson Angel M. Amante-Matba said, “from the original 5 barangays adopted by the RPOC-13 and the Regional Development Council Caraga Joint Resolution Number 06 series of 2017, the PDZ now covers 129 barangays, in 30 municipalities and 5 cities across the 4 conflict-affected provinces in the region.”The RPOC 7 bannered resolutions enjoining local government units to support the Barangay at Pulisya Laban sa Krimen Prog…

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Residents can expect more developments with President Rodrigo R. Duterte's approval of the law that created a separate legislative or congressional district for this city.

This was according to Mayor Ronnel Rivera, who said Friday the city's lone congressional district complements the administration's initiatives to transform General Santos as one of the country’s premier cities.

Duterte signed on March 11 Republic Act (RA) 11243, which reapportioned the first district of South Cotabato and established a lone legislative district for the city.

“This is another milestone in the long and colorful history of this city that we should cherish. The people of this city have long been asking for this change to come and now it is finally here,” Rivera said in a statement.

He said the city will now have "better representation in the national government" as it moves forward with its goal of being the “economic beacon of South Cotabato.”

Rivera lauded …

ILOILO CITY -- A total of 11,338 food packs are readied by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD 6) in Western Visayas in the event that local government units will ask for relief augmentations.In an interview on Friday, Renante Lasay, program development officer III of DSWD 6, said aside from the food packs, the region also has a stand-by fund of PHP3 million.Food packs are being prepositioned in every province in the region, he said.Negros Occidental has 2,000 food packs prepositioned at the province’s warehouse; Guimaras has 300; Antique has 1,000; and Aklan has 1,500.Iloilo province, on the other hand, has yet to preposition food packs because the province hosts the regional warehouse located at Oton town.In a pre-disaster risk assessment with the Office of the Civil Defense 6 and other government agencies, Lasay learned from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Office of Negros Occidental that DSWD food packs in Panaad, Negros Occidental warehouse are already n…

MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday said voters should not solely rely on surveys in selecting candidates in the May 13 mid-term polls.Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez noted that survey results do not reflect the real personalities of those who are seeking public office.“Surveys offer only a snapshot of a candidate’s popularity. It does not reveal anything substantial about the candidate’s qualifications, character, or potential as an elected government official,” he said in an interview."In a very real sense, choosing on a candidate on the basis of survey ranking alone is indistinguishable from judging a book by its cover,” the poll body official added.Jimenez encouraged the public to look for more criteria in choosing whom to vote for in the upcoming polls.“Clearly, there are better ways of selecting leadership: proven track record, stated positions (or the lack thereof) on critical issues, the voter’s personal knowledge,” he said.“These and other input…

MANILA -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) has reiterated its earlier recommendation for a "temporary ban" on palm oil imports, as Filipino coconut and oil palm farmers complain of extremely low prices due to the dumping of the commodity by two major palm oil-producing countries in Southeast Asia.In his Facebook page, DA Secretary Emmanuel "Manny" Piñol said the proposed ban is just temporary and effective only for a specified period.He said volume of palm oil imported from Indonesia and Malaysia have increased by 900 percent over the last three years.Piñol said he also asked the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Bio-Fuels Board (NBB) to increase the coconut oil component of bio-diesel from B2 to B5, or from 2 percent to 5 percent.The two recommendations, which were made as early as last year, were resubmitted by the DA to the Economic Cluster, the DOE and NBB, following reports that the European Union (EU) has started the ban on palm oil imports from M…

CEBU CITY — The Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) regional political party headed by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on Friday sealed an alliance with One Cebu headed by Cebu’s third district congresswoman, now gubernatorial candidate, Gwendolyn Garcia.In front of supporters who flocked to the HNP campaign caravan at the Liloan gymnasium, Duterte and Garcia led the recitation of the oath of alliance along with the HNP and One Cebu stalwarts.In her message, Mayor Sara said her regional party is tapping friends and allies who will rally behind the presidency of his father, President Rodrigo R. Duterte.“Nangita mi og daghan kaayong higala nga motabang, mosuporta, mokampanya ug moboto sa mga senador nga motabang pud sa administration ni Presidente Duterte para sa 2019 hangtod 2022 (We are looking for more friends who will help, support, campaign, and vote for the senators who will also help the administration of President Duterte in 2019 up to 2022),” she said.For her part, Garcia thanked the firs…

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is stepping up efforts to protect forests and watersheds, particularly in Bulacan, against fires which could be triggered by the extended dry season brought about by the El Niño.Some 200 forest and fire protection officers, as well as upland farmers who are active members of people’s organizations in the City of San Jose del Monte and nearby areas in Bulacan underwent basic firefight and first aid training on Thursday to upgrade their skills in combating wildfires in natural forests and established forest plantations.Paquito Moreno, executive director of DENR 3 (Central Luzon), said that enhancing the skills of fire protection officers, as well as upland farmers and barangay personnel in fire suppression and control is the first step to effectively address the problem of forest fires.The DENR enlisted the help of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to train the participants on how to combat th…

ILOILO CITY -- Nine solar powered irrigation systems (SPIS) are expected to be completed this first quarter of 2019, just in time when water is scarce as a result of the El Niño phenomenon.In an interview Friday, Engr. Albert Barrogo, chief of the Regional Agricultural Engineering Division (RAED) of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Unit 6 (DA-RFU6) said that the SPIS were funded from their 2018 budget but the construction went full swing in January this year.“Out of the nine units, seven are intended for rice and two for corn. They are all about to be completed,” he said.
Barrogo said that the systems have well-established sources, or they get their water from major rivers such that they are expected to augment the water needs of farmers. “That’s the best support that our project can give,” he said.Of the nine SPIS, two are intended for corn and are being established at the Villa Salomon in Patnongon and at Barangay Igcocolo in Guimbal, Iloilo.The seven SPIS for rice are e…